GOING BANANA'S

SUNDAY - Went to the Springs shopping outlet went to Next clothes shop I bought two pairs of jeans and two pairs of shorts one also in denim I have never had denim shorts before I doubt I will be wearing them next week .I also bought a short sleeved smart casual shirt. From there went to JD Sports and bought a pair of Croc sandals and Adidas sliders as well as two Adidas T-shirts retro style. Bought Helen two pairs of shorts and a pair of brown linen trousers .

Sunday evening we had been invited to her son's house Liam and his partner Mel  for a late dinner his house is in Driglington abought forty minutes away he lives in a three bed new build they bought it in 2024 and have been in it two years how time flies .   

 MONDAY - I have all week off work its my second week annual leave and the weather is not looking great I doubt we will either have a barbeque or a pizza feast its too cold, wet and grey .We went to our new farm shop we discovered a few weeks ago whilst out driving .We bought some plumb red tomatoes they are the best I bought a steak and ale pie £7.50 , a scotch egg £5.00 , half a dozen thick pork sausages £8.50 , four slices of smoked ham £12.50 nine bread cakes at forty-five pence each a tub of coleslaw , cheese onion sandwich filler and tuna sandwich filler each around the three quid mark.

TUESDAY - Nothing remarkable went to B&M in Barnsley Helen bought three banana plants and two Japanese Acers in the evening went to Morrisons bought a few groceries and two wooden half barrel planters . 

WHITBY ONCE MORE

 FRIDAY -Set of for Whitby we didn't leave until 12.30 and it is a two and a half hour drive filled the car up with petrol that's sixty quid gone in the first ten minutes of our journey .The sun was out the air con was on and we were in no rush finally made it to Whitby  just off the harbour paid a ten quid parking fee , before strolling around the shops .It was hot and sunny a glorious day .

If you are wanting fish and chips then there is only one restaurant in Whitby to go to and that's "The Magpie" we had to queue for fifteen minutes to get a table it is worth the wait we were second in the queue some people had booked and walked in ahead of everyone queuing which is fair play

The fish was spot on the batter crispy the fish whiter than white the curry sauce very decent and the Magners Irish cider could have been colder although I got it with ice I paid for a large haddock instead of the regular Helen got the regular and I couldn't see the difference I think it is a con the same happened at Murgatroyd's size was the same as Helen's regular fish think its a way to generate more money will stop going large .Bought a post card 40p .

After eating we drove over to Scarborough we use the Sea Life car park and went to the Old Scalby Mills pub .I had a cider in Whitby so I had a coffee Helen a tea we sat on the outside wooden benches watching the sea.

BETTER PIZZA

 THURSDAY - Went back to the garden centre returned a box of solar powered string lights we had more than enough with two boxes , I got a refund I also ended up buying a Japanese Acer tree for the front garden £129 no doubt it will survive long after I am gone I planted it in a big stone pot we bought a few weeks ago I planted it myself its called Groot .

Fired up the pizza oven on the way home from Uppermill called into Tesco and bought two pizza bases cheating I know but a lot less hassle making the dough from scratch does not seem to be ideal it is also messy .The pre made pizza bases is the way to go the enter and exit the oven a lot easier than wet dough and cook and taste as good if not better. I had pepperoni with mascarpone and mozzarella cheese  one pizza is enough. It was the best yet .

 FRIDAY - It is cooler today we are setting off to Whitby at around half past twelve hopefully eating at the Magpie café decided to but a post card of every place we visit scribble on what we did and safe it for future reference should have done this years ago a great way to reflect on things in the past , hope I remember . 

FRESH PRODUCE

WEDNESDAY - Cooked outside did the bacon and egg sandwiches on the camping stove we bought a while back .The temperature outside it was already  in the mid 25's  and rising way too warm for slaving over a indoor cooker. I am sure the bacon tasted tastier cooking it outside that's three different ways I have cooked outdoors in as many days if ever the gas electric got cut off we wouldn't starve the only draw back is the great British weather  yesterday afternoon after being red hot for the best part of the day before we lit the pizza oven it rained it was still sunny but now sunny and wet .

Being off work is nice doing nothing all day is nice too , drinking apple and mango cider with ice is extremely nice eating outdoors the best not leaving home very cost effective if there are planning another lock down I wont argue .

Went to the Albion farm shop bought various produce including both white and granary breadcakes  lamb chops for Helen I also bought some fudge and tomatoes topping for the pizza bases we bought a scotch egg to eat at the picnic tables outside on the way home stopped of at the Dobcross garden centre bought some solar powered string lights which we hung up all along the garden fence panels 32 metres not the worlds biggest garden but it is one of the nicest gardens on the block even if I say so myself .

NOT COOKING WITH GAS

 TUESDAY - Finally used the pizza oven made the pizza dough from scratch was a lot of prep like always  preparation is everything .You need to be ready with the pizza at the right time to cook it perfect it is an art form and like anything you learn from your mistakes but saying that it is not impossible to get a very tasty pizza on the first run .

Keep the fire box constantly burning it does not take long for the pellets to burn away the the temperature then drops pretty quick once there is no fuel it does not take long for a tinder box of pellets  to burn away so keep adding more pellets .Another tip make sure everything is to hand the blow torch , tongs , pellets and your toppings tomato and cheese and digital thermometer .Once the flames are peaking through the chimney throw in the pizza keep rotating the pie  and be careful not to burn it from uncooked to black in a blink of an eye obviously you don't want  no black crust .and be mindful flour get everywhere just live with it its not the end of the world having a thin film of flour dust everywhere where you are making pizza .it is stressful the pressure is on but it is fun and get it right which you will the end result is worth it .Leave the cleaning to the following day its outdoors anyway .

BARBIE NO2 2026

 SATURDAY - Ten hours in Huddersfield A&E not what we envisaged for the first day of my time off ,Got out just before ten Helen had a ecg , and cat scan plus bloods and other tests she was let home on the way home bought a pizza to cook in our regular oven ,The pizza oven was delivered along with a bag of pellets , blow torch and digital thermometer  my coffee Mokka pot also and 5 x xxl black fruit of the loom T-shirts .Will open the George Foreman Pizza oven tomorrow .

SUNDAY - At Helens parents doing some gardening it is another red hot day and little fun was had toiling away pulling weeds put we did it was that hot I even said yes to a can of cold Spanish lager.

MONDAY - Had a barbie the second one of 2026  we had sausages , burgers and butter and garlic chicken breast and skewers and jacket potatoes washed down with some mango cider .When the food is on the grill it never looks enough but the reality is there is also way too much '

PIZZA TIME

 SUNDAY - Went to Hampson's garden centre  bought some more flowers for the hanging baskets I got some rum and raisin fudge .We drove to Canon Hall somewhere we have not been for ages bought a stone planter a metal rustic poppy head and a few more plants cant have enough plants .Cooked a wagyu steak for tea with chunky chips and stemmed broccoli the steak was from Aldi was one of the best steaks I have had in a long time .

MONDAY - Took the cover off the patio furniture mid afternoon I had washed and cleaned the car and was sat in the sun just a few hours before leaving to go to work .On the way back home in the early hours of the morning it was raining .Helen had covered the furniture back over .I break up this Saturday for two week annual leave . 

FRIDAY - Ordered a George Foreman pizza oven , a slatted table a blow torch and a digital laser thermometer and some wood pellets just so we can cook a few pizzas in the garden hopefully weather permitting .Work is a total shit show so glad i am off for the next sixteen days .This afternoon was the hottest weather we have had this year in the sun was out in all its glory .